Effect of copper supplement on performance and blood parameters in Mahabadi castrated kids

In order to study the effect of Cu supplement on performance of Mahabadi kids, fourteen castrated Mahabadi male kids with average weight of 21±2 Kg were used in this experiment as a completely random design with 2 treatments and 7 replications (7 kids in each treatments). Treatments included control (without Cu supplement) and Cu treatment (100 mg Cu supplement/d). The kids were fed two times daily (h 6:00 and 18) during 90 days by a diet contained 70% concentrate and 30% forage. Cu supplement was fed as top dress in Cu treatment. Daily feed intake and Body weight were recorded daily and every 2 weeks respectively. Determination of Blood parameters were done by bleeding in day 90 of trial and nutrient digestibility were done by feacal sampling during days 85-90. At the end of trial the kids were slaughtered and carcass parameters and carcass tissue components were determined. The results showed the use of copper supplement at high levels in diets of Mahabadi kids hadn’t significant effect on average daily gain (P> 0.05). Apparent nutrient digestibility and blood metabolite concentration including triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose were not affected by Cu supplement (P> 0.05). Based on the current experiment results, the use of Cu supplement in the ration of castrated Mahabadi male kids (100 mg Cu supplement/d) had no negative effect on performance and carcass characteristics of Mahabadi male kids and they were capable to endure this level in the ration.